Experts recommend a minimum of 150 minutes of medium to high-intensity physical activity per week. We all know that. But, how many of us actually put in the effort required to achieve it? We would rather wait for Monday, or the 1st, or next month, or New Year’s to resolve to get fitter. But, what’s wrong with starting today? Wherever you’re from, here’s what you can do to live a more active lifestyle from this very day.
Think of your body as a machine. Physical activity keeps your body well oiled and running smoothly. It keeps your heart healthy, and prevents lifestyle disorders such as diabetes and hypertension. It also improves metabolism, aids digestion, and keeps you from feeling lethargic. As important as it is for your physical health, it also plays a significant role in keeping you mentally content. And, the best part? You do not need to run a marathon or lift heavy weights in order to avail these benefits. Small steps every day go a long way to ensure you live a more active lifestyle.
Here are a few tips and tricks on how you can live a more active lifestyle
Every little bit counts
So, you have a busy schedule, and taking time out of it to workout is not possible for you? Squeeze in whatever physical activity you can. A quick 15-minute walk around your block is fine. A few jumping jacks in the living room work just fine. Invest in a jumping rope and skip your way to fitness. Walk to and from lunch. Ditch the elevator and take the stairs everywhere you go. It does not have to be anything fancy; you only need to be consistent. Just remember this, every small something is infinitely better than nothing. If you need to work out for 150 minutes per week, that means you just need to work out for as little as 30 minutes every day. Surely, you can squeeze in three short 10 minutes of a workout here and there during your day.
Make physical activity enjoyable
The trick is to find one form of exercise that brings you joy; something that will make the journey to fitness fun for you. If you do something that you like, you will start looking forward to working out each day. It will motivate you to wake up half an hour earlier just to squeeze in a workout session before you head to work.
Track your activity progress
Once you start putting in the work, keep a track of your progress. Set a goal for yourself and work towards achieving it. Nothing will motivate you as much as seeing real results. You can use a fitness tracker watch or even just a fitness tracking application on your phone to watch your daily activity. There are so many options available out there. Find the one that suits your requirements, and go for it. A few fitness trackers also nudge you to move if you’ve been inactive for a while. It is super inspiring to see how much you’ve moved and how much more do you need to so that you can achieve your daily goal.
Switch up your activity every once in a while
The best workout is the one that includes both, cardiovascular exercises, and strength training. Chalking out a training plan is the easy part. Trying to stick to the plan is another story. Break the monotony and shake things up a little every now and then to keep things interesting. If you are not about that gym life and prefer the great outdoors, try to get into the habit of long-distance running or cycling. Many online communities of like-minded enthusiasts plan group outdoor activities pretty regularly. Take advantage of that and go on short day treks every couple of weeks.
Your lifestyle has to be sustainable
Whatever activity you pick should be easily accessible to you. It should fit your budget (if you have to join a fitness center for it). It should complement your lifestyle, and should preferably be near your house or near your workplace so that going there every day is not a hassle. Also, you should be able to do it for the long term. If you are not able to sustain it, it will not benefit you in the long run; and, may even cause more harm than good.
So, you can live an active lifestyle even if you do not spend all day on eating right and working out.
When it comes to exercise, all or nothing isn’t true at all. Start small and slow. As you get fitter, you will automatically be able to do so much better. If you sow the seeds for fitness in your life now, your body will thank you in many ways ten years down the line.
Consistency is the key. Keep going at it. If some exercise seems daunting to you right now, don’t give up. Try easier, beginner-friendly versions of it first, slowly building up your stamina and working towards being able to do it.
Remember to incorporate rest days in your workout schedule as well. In a bid to get fit quickly, don’t work out too much. Not only do you risk sustaining an injury, but also over-exercising can undo all the results that you worked so hard to achieve. Without enough time to rest and recover, rather than improving your muscle health, you might end up making it worse.
